Ford announced Monday that it would no longer use airbag inflators made by beleaguered supplier Takata. It’s the latest automaker to join a growing list of companies abandoning the controversial parts maker, Automotive News reported.
Honda, Nissan, Mazda and Toyota all announced they wouldn’t be using the airbag inflators, which could explode and spray metal shards into drivers and passengers, after the company’s record recall and fine by the Department of Transportation. Roughly 1.5 million Fords have been recalled as part of the airbag recall that has affected 19 million cars by 12 different automakers.
So far, eight deaths and nearly 100 injuries have been blamed on the faulty airbags.
This month, Takata said it would be exploring all options to survive.
“We are considering some plans to survive, but it is not at the stage I can talk about yet,” CEO Shigehisa Takada said earlier this month.
At its height, airbag sales comprised about 38 percent of Takata’s revenue. Federal regulators told the supplier that it would not be able to market and sell an airbag without proving that it could safely inflate.
Takata was fined $70 million for withholding data from regulators and lying about the safety of their airbags. The Japanese auto supplier faces another $130 million in fines if it doesn’t comply with orders, which include hiring an independent monitor.
The supplier also produces seat belts, electronics (including seat sensors and lane departure warning systems), steering wheel systems and racing products.
The company has shed more than half of its market value this year and the U.S. recall is expected to cost around $2.1 billion.
Does anybody have a list of all cars in which Takata air bags are used? Not just the listing of vehicles that are part of the recall, but instead a list of all cars. If all of these manufacturers are walking away from Takata, that must mean that all of Takata’s air bags are suspect; not just the ones made at their Mexico facility during certain timeframes. For this reason, it would be nice to have this list.
I think the reason for some of the automakers leaving is reputation, not the bags themselves. No automaker in their right mind would slap “Airbags by Takata” on a vehicle, even if they were improved.
They’re damaged goods.
I agree. No one has any faith in Takata’s engineering,quality control or integrity. I’d start looking for a buyer.
If you wanted to bet on the next auto industry bankruptcy, then this may be the one.
I feel like this falls right under the category of “This Is What You Deserve.”
It was just a matter of time before automakers started dropping the Takata “Ginsu” airbag before it slices and dices any more of their customers.
Tough Actin’ Takata.
What a disgrace! Considering the Japanese consider their work to be just as or more important than life itself, the humiliation is going to drive a mass “harakiri” among its employees and executives. Companies like Autoliv must be rejoicing.